Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed one of the biggest mistakes he made in his managerial career.
Jose Mourinho on challenges and trophy expectations
Renowned as one of the top football managers in the world, the Portuguese tactician has managed prestigious clubs such as Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Manchester United.
In his latest stint, Mourinho took charge of AS Roma in Serie A. During his tenure, the ‘Special One’ led them to victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
However, despite this achievement, Mourinho’s time at the club came to an end in January following a string of underwhelming performances.
Mourinho’s regret over not managing Portugal national team
In a discussion with Calciomercato.com, Mourinho revealed his regret over not accepting the opportunity to manage the national team of Portugal.
When asked which country he would like to manage, Mourinho responded, “It’s normal, Portugal. I had the chance to go twice, but they didn’t come at the right time for me. I was emotional when I rejected the last offer, because I decided to stay at Roma, and I think I made a mistake.
“Because now Portugal have a fantastic team, one of the best, in the top five. I knew it, but I felt a great connection with Roma, with the fans, so I didn’t want to make that decision.”
He added: “The Portugal job has come twice, but I think it’ll come a third time too and I’ll take it. Hoping that the generation I have will be as strong as this one.”
Mourinho reflects on his approach to coaching
Speaking about his way of working, the former Roma manager said: “Some coaches are maybe smarter and more intelligent, and therefore choose the right job with the ideal conditions to achieve success. I need to always work, to feel that I am doing something and helping someone.
“I like challenges, even if sometimes they are unfair because I can’t be expected to win trophies when my team is not the strongest on the pitch,” he said, expressing his penchant for challenges.
”The two finals with Roma were the toughest to reach. Maybe the Europa League with Manchester United was also very difficult. Because they were two teams that, when I arrived, were in a very difficult spot,” he added, as per Live Soccer Updates.
Meanwhile, Sports Buddy reported that Jose Mourinho holds a deep longing to manage Manchester United once again, confiding in close associates that he would eagerly “walk” to Manchester for a second stint.
